Soccer fan scores match programme

A football fan has paid £2,990 for a single sheet of typed paper more than 36 years old.

The collector, who wished to remain anonymous, paid almost six times the expected price for a one-page programme for a match between North London rivals Spurs and Arsenal on January 26, 1963.

The sheet of paper was described as 'unique' because it was rushed out when the two sides made a last-minute decision to go ahead with the game despite the snow.

At the same auction at Christie's in South Kensington, £4,830 was paid for a pile of programmes from Tottenham matches during the 1960-61 season, when they won the league and FA Cup double. The bid was 10 times the expected price.

The relics were the highlight of a football auction which raised a total of £145,280.

A bundle of 117 Bolton Wanderers match programmes for the 1938-39 season also sold for £3,220.

Most of the lots were from one collection of memorabilia belonging to a lifelong Tottenham supporter.

After the sale, he said: 'I am delighted - it never ceases to amaze me how much interest there is in football memorabilia.

'The collection consists of the glory years that Tottenham had and are a wonderful memory of all the games I've seen. However, now I'll actually be able to use my study to do some work.'

A spokeswoman for Christie's said: 'We're absolutely delighted. The total price is well above expectations and some of the lots went for up to 10 times what we predicted.'